CARNEY — Sometimes when offense isn’t running super smooth, you gotta get defensive.

That’s what the Carney-Nadeau boys basketball team did Friday night, holding the Stephenson Eagles to 27 points in a 54-27 home win.

The Wolves led the Skyline Central Conference contest 12-6 after the first quarter, then held the Eagles to just two points in the second as they built a 28-8 halftime lead.

“Defensively we were pretty solid, especially in the first half,” Wolves coach Paul Polfus said. “We frustrated them a little bit as far as taking away drives and closing gaps. The energy level was high.”

Brett LaFord led C-N with 21 points and nine rebounds. Beau Koffman and Mike Flanagan added 10 points each, while Koffman chipped in six steals. Bryce Kuehnau led the Eagles with 13 points.

C-N (10-7, 9-4 SC) held a 32-27 rebounding advantage and shot 21 for 61 from the field while holding the Eagles (1-13, 1-10 SC) to 11 for 44 from the field.

“We weren’t that sharp on the offensive end,” Polfus said. “When you’re not that good on the offensive end, you need your defense to come through. I was happy with that.”

The Wolves, who lost the JV game, visit Bark River-Harris Tuesday.

Stephenson 6 2 8 11 — 27

Carney-Nadeau 12 16 9 17 — 54

Stephenson — Cappaert 4, Kuehnau 13, Barstow 2, Monette 6, Coldren 2. FT: 5-6; F: 13; Fouled out: None.

Carney-Nadeau — B. LaFord 21, Baumler 9, Koffman 10, Flanagan 10, Kakuk 2, J. LaFord 2. FT: 6-14; F: 11; Fouled out: None. 3-point field goals: B. LaFord 3, Baumler 1, Koffman 2.